After consensus No. 1 pick Blake Griffin, an international player and an American player who played overseas generate what little audible buzz emanates from tonight's NBA draft.

And beyond those players -- Spain's Ricky Rubio and Los Angeles product Brandon Jennings, who played in Italy last season -- the overall ambivalence surrounding this event fuels what has become one of the most widely speculated drafts in recent history.

"As far as the crop goes, we've certainly seen better," Dallas general manager Donnie Nelson said. "I wouldn't say it's one of the best of all time."

Chicago assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff said people need to look beyond the names and evaluate the talent.

"It seems like everybody is looking for the marquee names and deciding this isn't a good draft class," Bickerstaff said. "I think it's a talented draft."

Rubio and Jennings offer name and talent as well as a potential solution for teams looking to mimic the franchise-changing success of New Orleans' Chris Paul, Utah's Deron Williams and New Jersey's Devin Harris.

Such players have produced a paradigm shift in the thinking throughout the league as NBA rules that prevent hand-checking on the perimeter have given point guards more freedom to control the game.

Beyond Rubio and Jennings, other point guards who likely will be drafted in the first round include North Carolina's Ty Lawson, UCLA's Darren Collison and Virginia Commonwealth's Eric Maynor.

"I think seven or eight point guards are going to be taken in the first round," New Jersey president Rod Thorn said. "It's a little bit unusual to have that many point guards, but point guard has become a very important position."

Rubio, the 18-year-old Spanish sensation, is causing officials to think long and hard about drafting him. The 6-foot-4, 180-pounder possesses playmaking ability and creativity, particularly in the transition game. But his skinny physique, lack of athleticism and questionable perimeter shot have some scouts wondering if his game will translate well in the NBA, especially since he was playing against inferior competition in Europe.

Still, NBA executives cannot ignore Rubio's talent and no one wants to be the person who passed on a future superstar with global marketing potential.

"I've seen him play and he is way beyond his years in terms of maturity," Bickerstaff said. "He has a natural feel for the game."

Some scouts have said that Jennings is a better prospect than Rubio. Jennings opted to play in Europe instead of going to college last season, and opinions vary regarding whether that decision increased his draft prospects.

"Jennings didn't get to play a lot (in Europe). It's sort of mixed with him in whether it helped him or hurt him," Thorn said. "You're playing with men, rather than young guys your same age. It made it a little bit tougher for him."

It will all play out quickly tonight after the Los Angeles Clippers make the widely expected decision of selecting Griffin, a forward from Oklahoma, to open the proceedings. The guessing will then begin in earnest, and one team's decisions will produce a greater impact on the rest of the draft.

Minnesota, with four first-round picks (Nos. 5, 6, 18 and 28) and a new president of basketball of operations, David Kahn, could be the catalyst for a number of deals.

Teams that don't have a first-round pick could attempt to trade their way into the mix. Boston reportedly is dangling Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen. Houston could be offering Tracy McGrady's expiring contract to catapult into the first round. The Los Angeles Lakers, with the 29th pick, are trying to trade down to avoid another guaranteed contract.

"I think there's people looking to trade up and down and all around," Nelson said. "I think it's a draft that's got potential for lots of movement."